Former barmaid Helen Curtis and her husband Simon have scooped a Pub Of The Year award after taking over a pub five-and-a-half years ago.

The couple, who run The Jolly Huntsman in Kington St Michael near Chippenham, have been been highly commended in the North Wilts Campaign for Real Ale Pub of the Year award.

Mrs Curtis, 39, was a barmaid in the pub when it came on the market and she and her husband, 33, took it over.

She said: “I have been here now, as a barmaid and landlady, for more than seven years and it has been the hardest but most rewarding profession I have ever had.”

She described the award as a testament to her husband’s hard work and their joint determination to make the Jolly Huntsman into a great community pub.

The couple have changed the menu, refurbished throughout and work hard to offer a huge selection of real ales and local ciders.

“We have guest ales and ciders which we change all the time,” said Mrs Curtis.

Meanwhile Paul and Margo Adams, who run the Woodbridge Inn near Pewsey, have proved they are green fingered as well as being able to pull a good pint.

The Woodbridge has been judged as having the best floral display of all 250 Wadworth tenanted pubs in the south and west.

Its floral displays are admired daily by countless drivers on the busy A345 roundabout.

Mr and Mrs Adams, who win £150 of gardening vouchers and an 18 gallon keg of 6X, took over the pub about three years ago.